Lessons are not just for children

The importance of parent involvement was highlighted by by Mama Sue and headteacher, Md Milka, when they spoke to a gathering of parents and guardians  of our children in Happy House School yesterday.
While teachers do all they can,  a child's education also requires support and encouragement from home.
It was the first parents' meeting of the new term and a first for those whose children have just joined us on our Dr Danwata Scholarship Scheme.
Afterwards Class Eight, who will be tatking their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam in November, were reminded of the need to work hard as time will go over very quickly.
 As growing young people, they also received a deodorant each and guidance on how it should be used.
Today, Mama and her team will be talking to classes six and seven in an effort to get them focussed on achieving their very best.

Napping in style

Our tiny tots can nap in comfort now the beds in Happy House School nursery department have been given a new lease of life.

The metal beds were getting the worse for wear and showing signs of rust. 

But after being dismantled, cleaned down and repainted they are as good as new.
To finish them the mattresses have been re-covered in a breathable, waterproof, fabric which can easily be wiped down.

The mattress covers, in the school's signature red., were made by our machinist Lucy.

Their good health is our joy

Their tragic start behind them,  Ludwin and Lesley are on the road to a happy, healthy, childhood.

The sister and brother were in a terrible state when they joined our family in February 2015 having been abandoned by their mum who had suffered a mental and physical breakdown,

Ludiwn, who will two in June, and Lesley, four, were both very poorly children and have needed regular visits to the clinic and have often required medication.

But now, theres every reason to celebrate as Ludiwn has been given a clean bill of health and discharged by the clinic.

Lesley is also in good health but will have to go back in a few weeks , hopefully for the last time as he, too, is making such good progress.

The difference in these two children is just amazing. Without the Happy House, and its magic, it is almost certain that they would not have survived.

But they have overcome the odds, and to see Ludwin engrossed in doing a doll''s hair and Lesley, who was so so withdrawn, wanting to show off  with a coconut shell on his head just melts our hearts.

We are overjoyed with their progress, and grateful to every one of you who supports what we do.

Your donations save lives.

It costs £20 a month, that's approx 65p a day, to sponsor a Happy House child and change a life.

If you would like to sponsor a child please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

School Report: Quick start for keen kids

The new term got off to a happy start with a school parade and assembly, writes computer studies and French teacher, Mr Omoi, who  brings us this week's report from Happy House School.
He adds:Pupils were pleased to be back after three weeks holidays.
Once in class it was straight back to work with "wake-up" exams which are aimed to sharpen their minds and get them fully back into the learning mode.
There were no exams for the nursery classes, but they too were right back to lessons with everyone enjoying the familiar school routine

,

The name says it all

We always say the Happy House is what it says on the gates - a happy house, full of happy kids.
And a party of visitors from Nairobi agreed that it was very aptly named.
They were members of the Association of Charitable Children's Institutions in Kenya.
The Happy House had been suggested to by the Children's Department when they had been at the Child Welfare Society,  an organisation which deals with a diverse range of child-focused services.
They were given a tours of Happy House and our school and had plenty of time to meet the kids - and they loved what they saw.
Speaking on behalf of them all, Elizabeth (third from right) said: "Whoever coined the name Happy House was genuinely right because children are evidently Happy!’’
 She added that our children had  invited them for a visit during  weekend for a fellowship session and to come ready for some football, volleyball, netball,  rope skipping  and a dancing competition."
We were delighted to see them and grateful for the food they brought as a gift for our family.

Plane sailing

 Charo our joiner has an incredibly busy workshop upstairs at Happy House.
It's been so busy that we have taken on another joiner to work with him, Plus we have a third who work on an ad hoc basis.

Charo at work

They can turn their hands to anything and among the furniture they have made are dining tables and benches for home and school, beds, desks, cupboards and most recently, stools for the science laboratory,.
They had already fitted out the lab, and have added new shelves to the school library, 
There is still much more to do as much of the furniture, secondhand when it was shipped out six years ago, is now in need of replacement,.
They still has to make.more desks and beds and we are also coming up to needing chairs to replace the old ones. 
Anything needed, including doors and windows, has been made in Charo's workshop.
To make their work easier, and faster, Mama made the decision to buy an £800 table saw/plane.
It took an army of men to carry it upstairs to the workshop,with Papa overseeing the operation. 
It did cost a lot of money, but with the Happy House and our three schools to keep equipped and maintained it will be worth its very heavy weight in gold!

My dream, by Sammy

Scholarship student Sammy, 12, just loves being in Happy House School  and knowing that he doesn't have to worry about being turned away because his parents don't have any money to pay school fees.

"I am studying at Hayward’s Happy House Primary School. 

"I love studying because my teacher often tells me the importance of studying. He says that if you study well you may succeed in your life.

" I have a dream in my life and I need to fulfill it by the help of God and also studies. My dream is to become a neurosurgeon.

" Without me working hard I won’t fulfill it. I would like to study well so that I could be helping a lot of people in the future.

"That is my dream."